Syrian ceasefire begins – and the US and Russia have the power to make sure it sticks

If the truce holds for a week, the US and Russia will form an unprecedented military partnership that will control airstrikes targeting Isis and Jabhat al-Nusra

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad walking in a damaged Damascus suburb ahead of morning Eid Al-Adha prayers just hours ahead of the start of a ceasefire brokered by the US and Russia. AP

A ceasefire began at sunset aimed at ending the five-year long civil war in Syria that has killed over a quarter of a million Syrians and forced five million more to flee the country. Under an agreement between the US and Russia, the initial truce will last seven days, during which time UN convoys will bring aid to besieged districts and Syrian government bombing of civilian areas will stop.

The Syrian army said a seven-day “calm” would be applied across Syria from 7pm on Monday, but it reserved the right to respond decisively “using all forms of fire to any violation by the arm

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